What is the wisdom behind the absence of the basmalah in Surat al-Tawbah?
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The questioner : Peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace, and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The questioner : Noble Shaykh, what is the wisdom behind the absence of the basmalah in Surat al-Tawbah?
The Shaykh : As is known to everyone, there is no basmalah between Surat al-Tawbah and Surat al-Anfal. Some scholars said: It was revealed concerning fighting, and the basmalah is a blessing and a source of tranquility and reassurance, so it is not fitting for a surah dealing with fighting and the hypocrites to begin with the basmalah. However, this is not correct, for the basmalah was placed before Surat Tabbat and before Surat Wail li-kulli Hamzat Luma'ah, even though they are all warnings, either general or specific.
However, the reason there is no basmalah between it and Surat al-Anfal is that the basmalah is a verse from the Book of Allah, a verse from the Book of Allah the Exalted. So, when the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not say: "Place the basmalah between the two surahs," they did not place it between them. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is the one who designates and says: "Place the basmalah." He did not designate a basmalah between Surat al-Anfal and Surat al-Bara'ah, so they did not write it.
But it remains to be asked: If he did not designate it, why do they separate it from Surat al-Anfal? Why did they not make them one surah?
We say: Yes, they did not make them one surah, because they were uncertain whether it is one surah with al-Anfal or two distinct surahs.
So they said: We will place a separator between the two surahs, but we will not place a basmalah. This is the correct view regarding the omission of the basmalah between it and Surat al-Anfal.
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace, and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The questioner : Noble Shaykh, what is the wisdom behind the absence of the basmalah in Surat al-Tawbah?
The Shaykh : As is known to everyone, there is no basmalah between Surat al-Tawbah and Surat al-Anfal. Some scholars said: It was revealed concerning fighting, and the basmalah is a blessing and a source of tranquility and reassurance, so it is not fitting for a surah dealing with fighting and the hypocrites to begin with the basmalah. However, this is not correct, for the basmalah was placed before Surat Tabbat and before Surat Wail li-kulli Hamzat Luma'ah, even though they are all warnings, either general or specific.
However, the reason there is no basmalah between it and Surat al-Anfal is that the basmalah is a verse from the Book of Allah, a verse from the Book of Allah the Exalted. So, when the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not say: "Place the basmalah between the two surahs," they did not place it between them. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is the one who designates and says: "Place the basmalah." He did not designate a basmalah between Surat al-Anfal and Surat al-Bara'ah, so they did not write it.
But it remains to be asked: If he did not designate it, why do they separate it from Surat al-Anfal? Why did they not make them one surah?
We say: Yes, they did not make them one surah, because they were uncertain whether it is one surah with al-Anfal or two distinct surahs.
So they said: We will place a separator between the two surahs, but we will not place a basmalah. This is the correct view regarding the omission of the basmalah between it and Surat al-Anfal.